Author: Angela Gentile

Angela G. Gentile, M.S.W., R.S.W. is a geriatric clinician and specialist in aging who has more than 25 years of experience working with older adults and their families. She has worked in
private practice, long-term care, home care, mental health and nonprofits. She has written two books - Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide and A Book about Burnout: One Social Worker's Tale of Survival. She also has a mobile app for iOS called Dementia Caregiver Solutions. Angela enjoys writing, traveling, photography and exploring what it means to age well. She is a realistic optimist who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband, two adult children and lovable dog named Rocky.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada website states that in 2011, there were 747,000 people living with some form of cognitive impairment, including dementia. This number is expected to double to 1.4 million by 2031. This means that many of us

One of the basic needs of humans (other than food and shelter) is the need to feel loved and like we belong. Belonging in the sense that we feel connected and accepted by others. We all have a different level

It can be upsetting and frustrating when a loved one with dementia forgets who his/her family members are. Sometimes it’s a case of not being able to recognize faces. Many times I have heard family members say, “He thinks I

What does aging with grace mean to you?
To help me get a sense of what this term really means, I surveyed 24 people of all ages (most aged 50-69) and asked them to define “Aging with grace.” I enjoyed reading

People with dementia who are also experiencing alcoholism or alcohol abuse is a very challenging situation for family members to manage. Alcoholism speeds the decline in the skills needed for independent living, worsens behavioural problems, and raises concerns of safety

The following are a number of questions to be used as a working outline in maneuvering through these scenarios. Each requires input and shared conversation with a guide or mentor to monitor and direct the conversations and the powerful emotions they

I have been a geriatric mental health clinician since 2010. One of the most complex and perplexing conditions that I have seen in those 65 and older is delirium. Of the troubling “3Ds” (Delirium, Depression and Dementia) often found in

Did you know that one in three Canadians over the age of 65 will fall this year?
Some of these falls are life-threatening. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations of older adults in Canada (Smith, Wager &

I work in Geriatric Mental Health. I see all kinds of people in my practice, and surprisingly I am rarely asked questions about preventative health measures when it comes to maintaining and improving brain health. One day I was asked by

Our society is greying. For the first time in Canada, we now have more older people (65+) than younger people (under 16). Although there are many benefits and advantages to getting older, the unfortunate facts are that as we age